Garland County runs into vote machine trouble HOT SPRINGS (AP) — Too few voting machines and untimely breakdowns led to long lines at two Garland County polling locations, and some voters walked away without casting ballots. Garland County Election Commission chairwoman Ginna Watson says one Hot Springs polling site on Central Avenue had a printer problem Tuesday that slowed the pace of voting. Watson told The Sentinel-Record there were machine issues at most precincts. One polling site o...

Arkansas awards more than $308k to crime victims LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says more than $308,000 was awarded to victims of crime last month. The Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Board made the awards in 213 new cases, with additional expenses paid in 11 previously submitted cases. Under the reparations program, victims of violent crime in Arkansas are eligible to receive compensation for unexpected expenses after a crime. Victims may receive money for m...

New sheriff, judge for Johnson CountyCLARKSVILLE — Democrat Larry Jones unseated Jimmy Dorney as Johnson County Sheriff in a tight primary race Tuesday, according to unofficial numbers with all 22 precincts reporting. Jones narrowly defeated Dorney by a vote of 690 to 668. Herman H. Houston defeated David Graves (421 votes) and James Melson (138 votes) with 792 votes. Because no Republican candidate entered either of those races, Jones and Houston will avoid the general election ...

McConnell wins GOP Ky. primary; Nunn for Ga. Dems WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell dispatched his tea party challenger with ease Tuesday night, and Democrats turned to two women, Alison Lundergan Grimes to oppose him in Kentucky and Michelle Nunn to fight for Georgia, in elections next fall with control of the Senate at stake. Setting up a third high-profile race, Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and his Republican challenger, Rep. Tom Cotton, were unopposed fo...

Andrea Lea to represent GOP in auditor election LITTLE ROCK (AP) — State Rep. Andrea Lea of Russellville has advanced to November's general election as the Republican Party's nominee for Arkansas auditor. Lea defeated Ken Yang of Benton in balloting Tuesday. Lea will face Democrat Regina Hampton Stewart and Libertarian Brian Leach on Nov. 4. During her campaign, Lea cited her experience as a former Pope County justice of the peace, a city council member and a three-term legislator. Yang rec...

Ross, Hutchinson win governor primaries LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Solidifying a general election matchup they've effectively been running for nearly a year, Democrat Mike Ross and Republican Asa Hutchinson clinched their parties' nominations for Arkansas governor in Tuesday's primary. The two ex-congressmen easily dispatched lesser-known, underfunded rivals. With most of the drama in that race reserved for the general election in November, Tuesday's primary was highlighted by dozens of hea...

Voters mixed o private option LITTLE ROC (AP) — Arkansas voters gave mixed signals Tuesday about the state's compromise Medicaid expansion plan, ousting one "private option" backer from his legislative office, nominating another for re-election and sending a third to a runoff. The private option calls for the state to dedicate federal dollars toward the purchase of private health insurance for people who couldn't otherwise afford policies. Several legislators said it offer...

Rice beats Holland in GOP state Senate bid LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A state representative who opposes Arkansas' private option Medicaid expansion has defeated a Republican senator who voted in favor of the plan. State Rep. Terry Rice of Waldron defeated incumbent Sen. Bruce Holland in Tuesday's general election. Rice will not face a Democratic opponent in November for the Senate seat. Holland was among the Republican senators who supported the private option Medicaid expansion, which uses f...

Thone defeats DixonDANVILLE — Democrat Mark Thone will retain his post as Yell County Judge after opponent Bob Dixon failed to unseat him in Tuesday's primary, according to unofficial results with all 28 precincts reporting. Thone, who was first elected in 2010, received 1,421 votes to Dixon's 820. Because no Republican candidates filed for the position, Thone will avoid the November general election. Democrat Debra Kitchens Craig received 1,531 votes and defeat...

Jones elected Pope County SheriffRepublican Shane Jones was elected Pope County Sheriff on Tuesday, after unofficial results from 55 precincts show he received 4,340 votes while opponent C.E. "Charlie" Falwell received 1,494 votes. "I'm honored to have this position," Jones said. "I have been blessed. ... I've enjoyed meeting the people, and look forward to serving them as sheriff." Jones said his first priority will be to replace the retiring jail administrator followed by r...

2 Appeals Court judges moving to Supreme Court LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Two judges from the Arkansas Court of Appeals will be moving to the state Supreme Court next January. Robin Wynne of Fordyce defeated lawyer Tim Cullen of Maumelle in balloting Tuesday. Wynne will replace Justice Donald Corbin, who is not running for re-election after more than 20 years on the bench. Two other Supreme Court seats were on the ballot. Justice Karen Baker was re-elected without opposition, and Court of Appeals ...

Independent candidates file in Atkins, Hector, LondonFive Independent candidates have filed to run for municipal offices in the November general election. Candidates in Atkins, Hector and London had a deadline of noon Monday to file. The following candidates filed: • Stephen "Bro" Price for Atkins Alderman Ward 2 Position 1. Price will face Democrat Charles May for the seat. • John Riley and Christopher Kelly for Hector mayor. • John R. Price for London Alderman Ward 1 Position 1. • Paula L. Jon...

Election Day underwayElection Day is underway for the May general primary. Polls are open today from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Barring a runoff, several hotly contested, one-party races will be decided today including Pope County Sheriff between Republicans Shane Jones and C.E. “Charlie” Falwell, Yell County Judge between Democrats Bob Dixon and incumbent Mark Thone, Johnson County Sheriff between Democrats Jimmy Dorney and Larry Jones and Johnson County Judge betwee...

Candidate Q & A Part 4Editor’s note: The Courier will publish a series of candidate questions and answers as a 2014 voter’s guide. Each of the candidates were emailed the same questions. Below are the responses from candidates for the Pope County Sheriff. Candidates for Pope County Sheriff C.E. “Charlie” Falwell Why are you seeking this position? I’m seeking the position of Sheriff not as a politician, but just a hard-working guy who is blessed and believes God has...

Lea, Yang vying for GOP nod for auditor LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for state auditor are touting their credentials and background as they run for an office responsible for writing the state's checks and best known for helping Arkansans reunite with unclaimed property. State Rep. Andrea Lea and Ken Yang are seeking the GOP nomination for the office in Tuesday's primary, hoping to succeed outgoing state Auditor Charlie Daniels. The winner o...

Ads for Pryor, Cotton matchup worry poll workers LITTLE ROCK (AP) — For months, their faces have been all over Arkansas televisions, yet U.S. Senate hopefuls Democrat Mark Pryor or Republican Tom Cotton won't be found easily Tuesday's primary election ballots. Voters will have to wait another six months to choose between the two, as both are running unopposed for Pryor's current seat in their party's primaries, which means their names will be grouped on the ballot with other unopposed candid...

Arkansas primary test of divisions within GOP LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Tuesday's primary in Arkansas will test the divisions among Republicans who hope to complete takeover of the state's top offices this fall as the party grapples with contested primaries in dozens of local, state and federal contests. In a far cry from past years where Democrats were so entrenched that the election for many offices was effectively decided in the spring, Republicans face contested primaries in five statewide r...

Arkansas unemployment rate drops in April LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The unemployment rate in Arkansas fell by three-tenths of one percent in April - down from 6.9 percent in March to 6.6 percent. Arkansas' Department of Workforce Services said Friday that the civilian labor force decreased by 8,300 because of 5,100 fewer people unemployed and 3,200 fewer workers. Department spokeswoman Becky Heflin said in a news release that the number of Arkansans without a job in April stood at 86,700 - a...

Gay couple last to wed in Pulaski County LITTLE ROCK (AP) — If they had been stuck in traffic for 6 more minutes on their way to Little Rock, Hilda Jones and Kerin Hartsell would have missed their chance to wed in Arkansas on Friday. With a sense of relief, the couple embraced and wept Friday - not knowing whether their union, and 540 others just like it, will withstand the scrutiny of the state's highest court. They were the last same-sex couple to receive their marriage license in ...